2025/011: Celebrating 30 Years of AEWA

This year marks a significant milestone in the history of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), as we celebrate the treaty’s 30th Anniversary!

For three decades, countries, organizations, and individuals across the African-Eurasian Flyway have come together under AEWA with the collective aim to conserve migratory waterbirds and their vital habitats on a flyway scale. This year is not only a time to reflect on our shared achievements but also an opportunity to highlight the importance of continued international cooperation in migratory waterbird conservation across Africa and Eurasia.

To support our collective efforts to celebrate the 30th Anniversary, the AEWA Secretariat has developed a suite of communication materials and resources:

• 30th Anniversary Logo – A dedicated “30th Anniversary Logo” which you can use to give a visual identity to your anniversary-related communications.
• Special Anniversary Webpage – a dedicate webpage, which acts as a hub for information and resources that can be shared and used to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of AEWA.
• Three New Video Animations – Three new short animations explain AEWA's mission, international action plans, and how AEWA contributes to broader goals like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the SDGs. The animations are now available in English and French on AEWA’s YouTube Channel.
• Social Media Pack – A dedicated social media pack that contains a collection of graphics, messages and other materials that can be used to help promote the anniversary and raise awareness on AEWA.

We are also pleased to be able to share that this year’s United Nations Endangered Species Stamp Series features three  AEWA species - the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), and White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala). This special 30th Anniversary tribute, released by the United Nations Postal Administration, highlights the critical role of AEWA in safeguarding these species and underscores the importance of global cooperation through multilateral environmental agreements such as AEWA in achieving our shared conservation goals.

Last but not least, we are pleased to share that we have received numerous statements from a wide range of key AEWA Partners and individuals who have played an important role in shaping the Agreement over the years. These inspiring messages are available on the dedicated 30th Anniversary Webpage, and we would welcome further contributions throughout the anniversary year.

We warmly encourage all AEWA Parties and all AEWA partners and stakeholders to use the occasion of the 30th Anniversary to raise awareness about the Agreement and the conservation actions being taken on the national, regional and international level. Your engagement will help underscore the importance of our collective efforts to “Make Flyway Conservation Happen” across Africa and Eurasia. We would therefore like to encourage you to document and share your planned activities through the special 30th Anniversary Pledge Page we have created.

Let us celebrate this special year by reaffirming our commitment to international cooperation for migratory waterbirds and build on the legacy of the past 30 years to ensure a thriving future for migratory waterbirds across our Flyway!